Rachel earned her Gold Award by completing a community-based initiative she called "The Kindness Web."

For her project, the Worthington Kilbourne High School graduate addressed the issue of bullying among students in her community. As a part of her project, she created a book and coordinating lessons and activities designed to increase awareness and instill empathy in students.

Emma earned her Gold Award by completing a community-based initiative she called "Stuffed with Stories."

The Linworth Alternative Program senior developed and implemented a creative-writing program for children. As a part of her project, she created workshops during which participants were given a stuffed animal to inspire their writing.

The students' stories then were placed in a gift bags that were donated to the Worthington Food Pantry for the children who visit the facility.

Kaylyn earned her Gold Award by completing a school-based project she called "Huey 3-D Monet Mural."

For her project, she focused on introducing deaf and hearing-impaired students at Huey Elementary School to the artwork of Claude Monet. As a part of her project, the Thomas Worthington High School junior then guided the students in creating a large-scale 3-D mural inside the school, inspired by Monet's work.

Anna Marie earned her Gold Award by completing a community-based initiative she called "Manatee Signage."

The Thomas Worthington senior focused on enhancing the learning environment at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's Manatee Coast exhibit. As a part of her project, she created and installed four informational panels about the West Indian manatees that are featured inside the exhibit.

She also created a life-size template of a manatee that could be used to paint on the concrete floor of the exhibit.

Rachel, Emma, Kaylyn and Anna Marie are four of 17 central Ohio girls to earn the 2013 Gold Award.

"From tackling educational and environmental issues to helping families in need, this year's honorees embodied the Girl Scout mission to make the world a better place as they embraced the Gold Award experience," said Tammy Wharton, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council.

The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, recognizing girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls successfully have answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world.

Fewer than 6 percent of Girl Scouts earn the award each year. According to the Girl Scouts website.